Indie stalwarts Inspiral Carpets returned to Sheffield on Friday 14th April. Tickets were like gold dust, having sold out within 24 hours of release; with new album The Complete Singles renewing interest in the Madchester group’s extensive back catalogue.
Support from Dirty Laces was well-received, warming up an already lively crowd ahead of the main event. The atmosphere continued to build until Inspiral Carpets took to the stage, accompanied by a rousing chorus of trademark ‘moos’ from an already-bouncing audience.
The baggy band, who have been on hiatus since the death of drummer Craig Gill in 2016, opened with singalong fan-favourite ‘Joe’, followed by ‘Generations’. Lead vocalist Stephen Holt looked right at home back on the stage, venturing to the barrier to interact with the appreciative fans on more than one occasion. In fact, the Carpets’ latest line-up – including Oscar Boon, son of keyboardist Clint – seemed touched at the love shown by the Sheffield crowd.
The twenty-song-strong setlist included anthems such as ‘She Comes in the Fall’, ‘This is How It Feels’ and ‘Dragging Me Down’ but it was the tribute to Gill at the start of the encore that will live long in the memory. An initial hush was followed by respectful applause and, as the band launched into ‘Commercial Rain’ on their return to the stage, a sense of togetherness filled the sweat-scented room.
Chants of ‘Boon Army’ rang out as a cover of ? and The Mysterians’ ‘96 Tears’, which the band say influenced their sound, followed by ‘Saturn 5’ from 1994 album Devil Hopping, brought the show to a close.
Inspiral Carpets’ psychedelia/alt-rock hybrid sounds as fresh today as it ever did. Catch them when they return to the city in June to play Don Valley Bowl’s MosFest alongside Bad Manners, Lottery Winners, and Sheffield’s own Little Man Tate.
Mooooooooo.
